We Cannot But Speak

  Our God is an awesome God and He transforms lives today! “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Co. 1:13). He has “blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Eph. 1:3)! “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights” (Jas. 1:17)! What has God done for you? How will you respond?


In Acts 4, Peter and John are arrested for teaching the people about the resurrection (2). The occasion for this preaching was following the healing of a lame man (3:1-11), whose healing was evidence of their message. When asked by his accusers by what authority this healing and teaching was accomplished, Peter responds that it is “by the name of Jesus Christ whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands here before you whole” (10). 


Peter goes on to declare that there is no “salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (12). It was this power, authority, compassion and love that motivated Peter and John to put themselves in harms way for the sake of the gospel. 


Unable to justify any real punishment, the accusers severely threatened the apostles not to preach Jesus again. The response from Peter and John was “we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (20). 


This must be our attitude as well. Whether in the face of suppression or in abundant opportunity, when faced with the power and love of God, how can we remain silent?

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